Transporting apparatus



Feb. 6, 1940. J. w LEWIS TRANSPORTING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 19, 1938 IHVENTOR JAMEs W Lew/s Feb. 6, 1940. J. w. LEWIS TRANSPORTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 125, 1958 3 sheetssheet 2 0 m w /V/ \N N? F... NW @M @w u g Q mm Inwcntor: JAMES W. LEW/s J. w. LEWIS- TRANSPORTING APPARATUS Feb. 6', 1940.

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Filed Oct. 19, 1938 Jnnentor: .JAMEs W. LEW/5 Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a hoist and conveyor for transporting warp beams and the like to and from looms in a mill and for handling beams or web rolls in cloth finishing plants, shearing machines, inspecting machines, dye houses, paper mills, and in fact. in any place where web rolls are to be transported from place to place. It is a well known fact that warp beams and cloth beams in a cotton or woolen mill are disposed adjacent an alley or an aisle. Looms are placed upon each side of the alley in such a manner that the beams will be disposed in opposite sides of the alley as close together as practical, so that the maximum number of looms may be placed in a given floor u space in a building. In other words, when the looms are installed in position, the aisle is so narrow that there is barely enough space to transport a beam at a low elevation between the looms without contacting or abutting one of the beams on the adjacent looms. There has recently arisen a practice of placing over-sized warp beams in looms in order to decrease losses and increase production. In a weave room where the looms are spaced to provide an aisle for warp trucks, it is evident that the installation of larger warp beams closes the aisles so that a warp beam cannot be transported therealong unless the same is raised to a substantial distance above the floor. Therefore, it is necessary to remove or install these 80 beams from the loom and then transfer them upon a suitable truck at an elevation so as to clear the warp beams in the looms.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a beam hoist and conveyor comprising a cradle for supporting a beam, said cradle being pivotally mounted upon one end of a boom which boom is adapted to be raised or lowered by a suitable lifting mechanism. This assembly is supported by suitable caster wheels, whereby the beam can be moved from place to place.

It is another object of this invention to provide a hoist and conveyor of the class described having a rotatably mounted cradle on the upper end thereof for supporting a beam, with means for locking the cradle in fixed positions. This locklng feature is very essential, especially while the warp beam is being transferred down the aisle between the looms. Were this locking feature not provided, there would be a tendency for the cradle 50 to rotate laterally and thereby cause the beam which is carried thereby to project into such a position that it would contact the looms adjacent the aisle.

The purpose of providing a pivoted cradle of this type is to facilitate the handling of the beam.

For example, when the beam is being installed in a loom it frequently becomes necessary to release the locking means and rotate the leading end of the beam spindle into its hearing. In other words,

by releasing the locking means the cradle has a 5 certain amount of lateral play which is essential to the proper positioning of the beam. Also when a beam is being loaded, it is necessary to lower the cradle and then position the cradle at right angles to the longitudinal center line of the truck and then roll the truck to place the cradle beneath the beam. When the beam has been loaded, it is then necessary'to lock this cradle in a position so that the longitudinal center line of the beam will be parallel to the longitudinal center line of the truck, because when the beam is in this position it will occupy less space and can be carried more easily down a narrow aisle without abutting an adjacent loom.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a portable truck for warp beams and the like having suitable caster wheels on the lower portion thereof for supporting the same with means for adjusting the height of the truck supported by said caster wheels. By providing this adjustment 26 it is found possible to lower the framework to a very low elevation, thereby enabling an operator to place the cradle under or remove it from beneath a very low warp beam.

Some of the objects of the invention having 30 been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of my invention shown in conjunction with a hoisting mechanism;

Figure 2 is a plan view taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 1 showing the cradle in dash-dot lines when it is disposed at right angles to the longi: tudinal center line of the truck and showing it in bold lines when its center line is parallel;

Figure 3 is an end elevation taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 2, showing the locking means for the cradle;

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a schematic view showing the arrangement of looms in a mill and also showing a beam supported by my invention in a position prior to installation of the same upon the beam lock bearings.

Referring more specifically to the drawings,

. looms.

the numeral l denotes the side frame members which support the hoisting mechanism. The members are, in turn, supported by flxed wheels II and caster wheels l2, the fixed wheels being secured to brackets I4, said brackets being pivoted as at l to the side frames. The brackets l4 also have suitable spaced holes l5 therein which are adapted to be penetrated by stud bolts H to secure the brackets in position relative to the side plates. For example, when it is desired to raise or to lower the elevation of the side plates l9 relative to the floor line, it is only necessary to remove the stud bolts l1 and rotate the brackets l4 to the position where the desired holes l6 can be penetrated by the stud bolts and again 'fas-' tened to the side plates Ill. The casters l2 are pivoted as at l8 to brackets l9. These brackets have suitable spaced holes in their vertical legs, one set of which in each bracket are adapted to be penetrated by stud bolts 2|, to fasten the bracket to the side of the plate l9. Likewise the elevation of this end of the side plate l9 may be varied relative to the floor line by removing the stud bolt 2| from the holes shown and placing it in the adjacent high or low holes 29.

Pivoted between the plate l0 as at is a boom, or power arm 26, which arm projects upwardly and has pivoted to its upper end as at 21 a bracket 28. This bracket supports a cap 29 which, in

turn, has rotatably mounted upon its upper portion as at 39, a plate 3|. The plate 3| is welded or otherwise secured to the lower side of a pair of parallel channel members 32. The channel members 32 have arcuate members 33 securedto the upper portion of each end thereof, said arcuate members being adapted to support suitable saddles 34 which in turn support a beam 35. The cradle comprising members 3| to 34, inclusive, is broadly designated by reference character 35.

As heretofore stated, it is desirable to have the cradle assembly 36 disposed at right angles to the longitudinal center line of the hoisting mechanism, when the beam is being loaded prior to transportation along the aisles between rows of For this reason, it is necessary to have the cradle 36 rotatably mounted upon the upper portion of the cap 29.

It is also desirable to have means for lockin this cradle in a position at right angles to the longitudinal center line of the framework and also in a position where the longitudinal center line of the cradle is parallel to the longitudinal center line of the framework. In order to provide this locking means, suitable cavities 31 concentric to point are provided in the top of cap member 29 (Figure 2). The plate 3| also has a perforation therein which is disposed along the ,same' radius relative to the pivot point 39 as the cavities 31 and 38. This perforation in the plate is adapted to be slidably penetrated by a plunger 40,- which plunger has a transverse slot 4| in its upper end (Figure 4). The slot 4| is penetrated by a pin 42 in the free end of lever 43. This lever is supported by brackets 44 and 45 which are secured to one of channel members 32. The lever 43 also has a suitable handle 43a which may be engaged by the operator when it is desired to remove the plunger 49 from the cavities 31 and 38. A torsion spring 46 normally forces the plunger 49 into one of the cavities 38 or 31 when handle 48a is released. If the cradle is disposed in a position where its longitudinal center line will be parallel to the longitudinal center line of the supporting framework, the plunger will penetrate one of the cavities 31, whereas if the cradle is positioned at right angles to the longitudinal center line of the framework the plunger will penetrate one of the cavities 88. In other words, the cradle will assume the position shown in dot-dash lines in Figure 2.

The bracket 28 has suitable drag links 56 pivoted thereto as at 5| and these drag links project downwardly in parallel relation to the boom 26 and are pivoted as at 52 to the side plates l8. These drag links serve to maintain'the cap 29 and its cradle 35 in a horizontal position while the same isbeing loweredv or raised. Pivoted as at 53 to the lower end of boom or power arm '28 are links 54, said links projecting horizontally to the left (Figures 1 and 5) and having their other ends pivoted as at 55 to a connecting bar 55. This bar has pivoted to its intermediate portion, as at 51 a power piston 58, said piston projecting to the right (see Figures 5 and 6), and being adapted to slidably penetrate bore 58 in housing 60. A suitable packing nut 5| and packing gland 52 are provided for maintaining the pressure within bore 59. Leading into the bore 59 is a smaller bore 53, which communicates with a vertically disposed bore 64. The bore 54 has a restricted bore communicating therewith which is normally closed by ball 66, said ball being pressed downwardly against the upper part of the bore by means of spring 51. A nut 68 closes the upper end of bore 64 and serves to'hold the spring 61 in position. The lower end of restricted bore 55 communicates with a restricted horizontal bore 69, the right-hand end of said bore 59 communicating with an enlarged bore 19 in which one end of pump plunger 1| is adapted'to reciprocate. A packing nut 12 and packing gland 13 are disposed around plunger 1| to help maintain the pressure within bore 18. A vertically disposed bore 15 is adapted to intersect the restricted bore 69 at substantially right angles and the upper restricted port 15a of this bore communicates with oil reservoir 80. A suitable ball 11 is disposed in the upper end of the bore 15 and serves to normally close the port 15a between the bore 15 and the reservoir 80. A compression spring 16 normally holds the ball 11 against port 15a and a suitable nut '19 holds the compression spring in position within the bore 15.

The right hand end of the pump plunger 1| has pivoted thereto as at 82 arms 83. These arms have slots 84 therein which are penetrated by pins 85 on the lower end of arms 86a on operating handle 86. The handle 86 is pivoted as at 81 to the side plates I. Also a suitable compression spring 89 is disposed around the right hand end of pump plunger 1| to normally force the plunger to the right (Figures 5 and 6). It is seen that as the operating handle 86 is oscillated about its pivot point 81 that the plunger 1| will be reciprocated back and forth in the bore 10. As the plunger 1| moves to the right, oil within the reservoir 89 will be drawn downwardlyinto bore 59 and enlarged bore 10. Then as the plunger moves to the left in Figure 6, this oil will be expelled from these bores and forced upwardly through bore 65, bore 54, bore 63 and into bore 59, which, in turn, will force the operating piston 58 to the left to cause the links 54 to rotate boom 25 in a clockwise manner in Figure 1 and raise the cradle 36 to the desired elevation.

If it is desired to employ foot operated means for the pump instead of the oscillation of fth 'e handle 86, it is only necessary for theo rator to oscillate the lever 99 with his "foot'f'cwliich' b lever is pivoted as at to the operating handle. The lower end of this lever is pivoted as at 92 to the plates 83. It will be noted by referring to Figures and 6 that the reservoir 00 has a suitable cap 95 secured thereto which cap has a plug 95 in the upper portion thereof which may be removed for adding oil. Also this cap has suitable lugs 91 thereon which are penetrated by pin 25, to support the housing 60 and its associated parts.

When the cradle 36 is to be lowered it is necessary to provide means for returning the oil to the reservoir 80. In order to provide for the escape of the oil from the chamber 59 a suitable bore 99 is provided which leads from the chamber 59 to the reservoir 80. One end of the bore 99 is normally closed by the end of a pin I00, which pin projects to the right and is slidably mounted in cap 95. This pin has a compression spring IOI mounted therearound for normally forcing the left-hand end of this pin into the-bore 90 to close it. The right hand end of pin I00 has pivoted thereto as at I03, 9. suitable lever I04, said lever being pivoted as at I05 to the cap or cover 95 and the lower end of lever I04 is connected to a suitable push wire I00 which is mounted in a flexible casing I01, said casing projecting upwardly within operating handle 00 and having its upper end fastened as at I 00 to the upper end of the handle. The upper end of the push wire I05 projects beyond the casing I01 and is adapted to be contacted by the lower end of release screw IIO, said release screw being threadably mounted in the upper end of the handle 00. When this release screw is turned to the right, the push wire I06 is moved downwardly, thus causing the lever I 04 to rotate in a clockwise manner and withdraw the left hand end of pin I00 from the bore 90. This will allow the oil in compartment 50 to escape back into the reservoir '00. As the oil escapes, the boom 20 and its associated cradle 30 will move downwardly by virtue of its own weight.

Figure 7 shows a schematic view of a plurality of looms lli,'each loom having a cloth beam II! and the warp beam 05. The looms are alined in parallel rows with an aisle II therebetween. Near the center of this view is shown my improved hoist with a warp beam 05 thereon in position just prior to placing the leading spindle 35a of said beam into the bearing Ilia of the loom. It is noted here that the cradle 30 is disposed in parallel relationship to the longitudinal center line of the hoisting mechanism so that it can be easily transported in elevated position down the aisle III between the looms. The leading spindle 05a of the warp beam 35 is headed into the pomtion shown in Figure 'l where it will be close to the bearing Ilia. Then enough oil is allowed to escape from the compartment II to allow the beam spindle "a to be lowered to substantially the same elevation as these bearings Ilia at which time the rear end of the truck is rotated laterally, allowing the leading end thereof to act as a center of rotation and this lateral rotation is continued until the rearmost spindle 05a is substantially in position for being placed in its bearings Ilia. At this time. it is usually necessary to release the locking pin 40 so that the cradle 00 can be oscillated back and forth about its pivot point 00 until the spindles 35a exactly coincide with the bearing portions Ilia, after which the cradle '30 is lowered still farther until it is free to move from beneath the installed warp beam.

The beam is loaded with the cradle substantially at right angles to the longitudinal center line of beam, then when it is ready for transportation this beam and cradle is rotated to the position shown in Figure l, and looked, after which it is elevated. After the elevation has been effected the beam is transferred at a high elevation along aisle 5 and the foremost spindle 35a of the beam is directed obliquely to the loom bearing Ilia.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for removing loom beams from looms and transporting the same along the aisles between looms as well as transporting the beams along the aisles and installing the beams in the looms of a weave room, comprising an elongated truck adapted to pass along the aisles, one end of the truck being of relatively small vertical thickness so that said end can be inserted beneath a loom beam, a lifting arm mounted at one end for pivotal movement at the other end of the truck and having a cradle on its free end for supporting warp beams, cloth beams and the like on its free end, said cradle being mounted for rotation on a vertically disposed pivot on the free end of the arm, and means for locking the cradle in position relative to the free end of the arm, whereby the beam can be transported along the aisles between looms in a weave room while the beam is held in elevated position without contacting the looms defining the aisle between rows of looms.

2. A wheeled truck for transporting web rolls comprising an elongated wheeled framework, a lifting arm pivotally mounted at one end on one end of the framework and having means associated therewith for raising the free end of the arm on its pivot, the free end of the pivoted arm being adapted to rest on the other end of the framework, the free end of the arm having an upstanding spindle, a bearing surface surrounding the spindle. a cradle mounted for rotary movement around said spindle and resting on the bearing surface surrounding the spindle, said bearing surface having a plurality of cavities therein, and releasable means carried by the cradle for engaging said cavities one at a time to lock the cradle in position relative to the free end of said arm.

8. A truck for transporting loom beams along aisles between rows of looms and for raising and lowering the beams with relation to the loom beam bearings on the loom, comprising an elongated substantially rectangular framework having wheels at each end for supporting the same, a lifting boom pivotally mounted at one end near one end of the framework andhaving its free end, when in lowered position, resting on the other end of the framework, a horizontally disposed cradle mounted for rotation on the free end of the boom. a pair of spaced arcuate members on the cradle for supporting a beam of cloth, warp and the like and means for locking said cradle to the free end of the boom to prevent rotation of the same relative to the boom.

JAMIE W. LEWIS. 

